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Portable classroom delivery delayed at Deer Creek

Delivery is now scheduled for October, which created last-minute musical-chairs scenario for teachers

Deer Creek Elementary School opened its doors to students Sept. 5, and because two new portable classrooms did not arrive in time, school officials had to switch ssome classes around to crete space for everyone.

Last spring, the Tigard-Tualatin School District ordered two portable classrooms from Williams Scotsman, a modular building manufacturer based in Baltimore. Crowding has been an issue at Deer Creek, and the school planned to use the portable classrooms for its two fifth-grade classes.

But before the start of the school year, the two fifth-grade teachers at Deer Creek got word that their portable classrooms wouldn't be arriving until about a week after the school start date of Sept. 5, a date that has now been shifted to October.

"The principal (Jarvis Gomes) met with those two teachers, and they determined that the best place for those classes to be would be in the library," said Susan Stark Haydon, the district's director of community relations.

And on Aug. 23, investment company Double Eagle Acquisition Corp. announced plans to buy Williams Scotsman for $1.1 billion, which caused a further delay.

So the district came up with a new plan, this one meant to function even if the portable classroom delivery gets delayed indefinitely. Deer Creek had been reserving one classroom for a potential additional kindergarten class. That turned out not to be necessary, so one fifth-grade class got that classroom. The other fifth-grade class will go to a classroom that was first intended for STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) use. The STEAM teacher will use other spaces in the school building until the portable classrooms are set up.

Williams Scotsman sent the following statement through a public relations representative:

"Williams Scotsman understands there is a delay in the scheduled delivery of the portable units for Deer Creek Elementary. We sincerely regret the inconvenience this is causing, but this unfortunate situation is beyond our control. We are currently investigating the issue and evaluating all of the options now. We will continue to keep the school informed about next steps."

Principal Gomes wrote in an email, "Our students will not see any change in their instruction or experiences in the classroom. Once the portable is installed, the classes will be moved right away."